N.C. observes Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 6-12

From the press release from The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Carolina:

NC Families United and The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Carolina, along with schools and other child serving organizations across the state, will observe Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day by taking part in a statewide balloon launch on May 9, 2012 at 9:30am. This balloon release recognizes children in North Carolina who are living with mental illness by bringing awareness to the fact that recovery is possible and these children can lead productive lives in school, at home and in their community.

“We hope that this statewide balloon launch will show families and children who are in need of mental health services that they are not alone,” Gail Cormier, Executive Director of Families United, the North Carolina Chapter of the Federation of Families. “There are so many organizations across North Carolina that can help!”

Serious emotional and mental health disorders in children and youth are real and treatable. We CAN prevent tragedies like Tucson and USC from happening if we can get children the help that they need when symptoms first emerge.

“Recognizing signs and symptoms of an emotional or mental health disorder in a child early on is key in their recovery,” said Jennifer Rothman, Young Families Program Director, NAMI North Carolina. “This is why education is so important. We all need to be aware of these disorders so we can offer support to both the child or youth and their families.”

It has been estimated that almost 21 percent of U.S. children ages 9 to 17 have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder associated with at least minimum impairment. Of these children, less than one in five actually receive the treatment that they need.

Get involved in Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 6-12th, to learn more about serious mental illnesses in children and youth and how recovery is possible. To find out what your community is doing for this week, visit http://www.cmhnetwork.org/. To have balloons sent to your school, company, or community, contact Gail Cormier at gcormier@triad.rr.com or Jennifer Rothman at jrothman@naminc.org.